| NGC 381 | |
|---|---|
| | |
| Observation data (J2000 epoch) | |
| Right ascension | 01h 08m 19.9s [1] |
| Declination | +61° 35′ 02″ [1] |
| Distance | 3,120 ± 300 ly (957 ± 93 pc) [2] |
| Apparent magnitude (V) | 9.3 [3] |
| Apparent dimensions (V) | 6′ [1] or 7′ [3] |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Mass | 32.4+45.2 −18.9 [4] M☉ |
| Radius | 15 ly [5] |
| Estimated age | 316+39 −34 [2] |
| Other designations | Collinder 10 [6] |
| Associations | |
| Constellation | Cassiopeia [3] |
NGC 381 is an open cluster of stars in the northern constellation of Cassiopeia, located at a distance of approximately 3,120 light-years from the Sun. [2] Credit for the discovery of this cluster was given to Caroline Herschel by her brother William in 1787, although she may never have actually seen it. [7]
This is a Trumpler class III 1 m cluster of intermediate age, [1] estimated at 316 million years. This class indicates the cluster is relatively weakly concentrated, with a small brightness range and an intermediate richness of stars. A total of 350 probable members have been identified, down to 20th magnitude, [2] and the cluster contains about 32 times the mass of the Sun. [4] The cluster has a core angular radius of 2.99′±0.93′ and an outer cluster radius of 5.6′±0.1′. [2] It has a physical tidal radius of 15 ly (4.7 pc). [5] No giant stars have been discovered in this cluster. [1] Four candidate variable stars have been found in the field of NGC 381; one of which is a suspected cluster member. [8] The eclipsing binary OX Cassiopeiae was once thought to be a member, but is now known to be a background star system. [9]